Donor harvestingMake sure every valuable follicle is not wasted.Genuine Open technique donor harvesting
In 1997 Dr. Damkerng Pathomvanich was the first to develop and pioneer the OPEN TECHNIQUE in donor harvesting. This technique was published in the Dermatology Surgery Journal (April 2000) and Hair Forum International Journal (October 1998).

Because hair loss is on going processes, meaning that you have a limited donor hair to distribute to the area of balding scalp. Experienced and qualified hair surgeons are willing to spend more time in harvesting and cutting the grafts to achieve minimal wastage. Those who opt for quick blind techniques donor harvesting, will end up with significant follicular damage, up to 37% transection rate has been reported in medical literature. The damaged hair follicles usually have lower growth rate and, even if they do grow, they are deformed and miniaturized hair. This open method has one of the lowest transection rates when compared to other techniques reported in medical literatures. Minimal transection which means more grafts is available for transplantation and less skin has to be removed thus minimal donor scarring.

Prior incision, "tumescent" technique is applied this means is that a fairly large volume of fluid is injected into the numb donor area in order to raise the hair follicles up off the scalp; doing this allows us to cut more easily without damage to underlying nerves and blood vessels. In addition, when we free up the strip from its deeper tissues, we can do so with minimal damage to the bulbs of the follicles. Since the tumescent fluid is a saline solution with dilute amounts of local anesthetic and of epinephrine, the technique also helps to decrease bleeding and ensure that no pain is felt at any level of the dissection. After these injections various sensations like pulling or tightness may be felt, but there is no pain sensation.

After donor area is anesthetized and tumesced, the incision is scored superficially then pair of small double skin hooks are placed and gently pull in the opposite directions while cutting perpendicular using a single-bladed knife to between the hair follicles. In addition, 4 times magnification prismatic loupe and small tip suction is used to wipe out blood from the wound bed for better exposure. This enables individual hair follicles to be directly visualized and protected from transection during the painstaking harvesting process.

This technique is extremely efficient since it allows the surgeon to visualize the hair follicles before cutting, without needing to constantly guess the correct angle, while it requires more time and more experience; it provides an invaluable benefit to you. Higher and healthier grafts are obtained as a result.

When harvesting reach to 5-10 centimeters on both sides, the first piece of strip is removed for slivering and dissecting under stereo-microscope. The procedure is then carried out till the end of strip.